Iran says will respond to any US violation of memorandum of understanding

TEHRAN (AFP): Iran will respond to any US violation of the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday, as delegations from both sides were expected in Qatar for indirect talks on the deal.

“We will not leave any action unanswered. As Iran’s powerful armed forces have demonstrated, any act of aggression against the objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be met with an immediate and decisive response,” Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a weekly press conference.

“Such actions would constitute a violation of Article 1 of the memorandum of understanding. Naturally, if such violations are repeated and continue, the continuation of this process will encounter difficulties.”

Iran will hold talks with mediator Qatar on Wednesday regarding its frozen assets, the Iranian foreign ministry said, denying that any meeting with the United States was planned in the Gulf state, where delegations from both sides were expected.

“What is expected to take place in Doha, probably tomorrow, will be discussions regarding the implementation of provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including the provision concerning the release of Iran’s restricted assets, and these discussions will be held with the Qatari side,” Baqaei said.

Baqaei was referring to Iranian funds blocked abroad due to US sanctions, a key issue under discussion as part of an agreement between Tehran and Washington to end the Middle East war.

Iran is making any agreement with the United States conditional on the release of a portion of these assets in order to bring a lasting end to the conflict.

Among elements agreed under a so-called memorandum of understanding already signed is a US commitment to eventually “terminate all types of sanctions against” Tehran, and to “make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets” of Iran.

Iran has been subject to asset freezes and sweeping sanctions by the United States and other Western countries since its 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

While there is no official figure for the total amount of frozen Iranian assets, media reports have estimated the sum at between $100 billion and $123 billion.